Fate

It is not true that we are guaranteed a comfortable and secure existence. Until we die, we are more or less exposed to every possibility. The complex mechanism of cause and effect limits our power to control events. We can put the odds of a desired outcome in our favor, but we can never be certain that the future will be as we imagine it.

Even a cursory reading of the newspaper will turn up an example of a surprise ending to an ordinary life. The New York Times recently reported a Christmas gathering that ended tragically when a fire killed several family members. This is an unpleasant story and we may feel horror at the harrowing events and sympathize with the human suffering.

But we seldom simply fold the newspaper after commenting to our wife or children that here is another clear instance of cause and effect. C'est la vie.

Such is life. We attempt to drive circumstances in a corner where we fancy that we are masters of our fate. This is a terrible delusion. We cannot control events in that way.

The only way to be the master of your fate is to practice accepting things as they are--whether agreeable or disagreeable. This may be easy to talk about, but it is a very difficult practice.

Why wait until a challenging circumstance finds you out of practice? Study how to act without fear.

Do as a wise man should and prepare for ill and not for good.